Now in the fifth chapter, this study of Talmage's Jesus the Christ is helping me uncover some nuggets of truth that previously escaped my understanding. All quotes are from Jesus the Christ unless otherwise noted.
Deuteronomy 31:9, 24-26; 17:18-20
Genesis 3:15
Hebrews 2:14
Revelations 12:9; 20:3
Moses 5:6-9
Moses 6:52
Genesis 5:18, 21-24
Jude 1:14
Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14
Acts 3:25
Galatians 3:8
"Adam...rejoiced in the assurance of the Savior's appointed ministry, through the acceptance of which, he, the transgressor, might gain redemption. Brief mention of the plan of salvation, the author of which is Jesus Christ, appears in the promise given of God following the fall—that though the devil, represented by the serpent in Eden, should have power to bruise the heel of Adam's posterity, through the seed of the woman should come the power to bruise the adversary's head. It is significant that this assurance of eventual victory over sin and its inevitable effect, death, both of which were introduced to earth through Satan the arch-enemy of mankind, was to be realized through the offspring of woman; the promise was not made specifically to the man, nor to the pair. The only instance of offspring from woman dissociated from mortal fatherhood is the birth of Jesus the Christ, who was the earthly Son of a mortal mother, begotten by an immortal Father. He is the Only Begotten of the Eternal Father in the flesh, and was born of woman...As a natural and inevitable result of his disobedience, Adam had forfeited the high privilege he once enjoyed—that of holding direct and personal association with his God; nevertheless in his fallen state he was visited by an angel of the Lord, who revealed unto him the plan of redemption...attested by Enoch...the very name by which the Savior would be known among men was revealed—...Jesus Christ... The recorded covenant of God with Abraham, and the reiteration and confirmation thereof with Isaac and in turn with Jacob—that through their posterity should all nations of the earth be blessed—presaged the birth of the Redeemer through that chosen lineage. Its fulfillment is the blessed heritage of the ages."
The seed of the woman will bruise the head of the serpent. In all the times I've read this or heard this, it never dawned on me that this meant Jesus Christ. All the earth has been blessed by the posterity of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for Jesus was born through this chosen lineage as the son of Mary. Now it makes perfect sense. It also makes perfect sense that the Hebrews knew much about Jesus Christ but could not accept the simple carpenter born in poverty. They expected a mighty king or warrior to bruise the serpent and crush their oppressors, not someone who used stories and logic to win hearts and minds. Yet, those born again through the blood of Jesus Christ, a direct mortal descendent of Abraham, are as numerous as the sands of the sea and dwell in every nation of the earth. God, the Father, is ever faithful in keeping His word and fulfilling all prophecy.
